Reports & Testimonies

GAO’s recommendations database contains report recommendations that still need to be addressed.

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remain open until they are designated as Closed-implemented or Closed-not implemented.
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Recommendation: To facilitate DOD's oversight of the military services' S&I pay programs, and to fully ensure the effectiveness of these programs, the Secretary of Defense should direct the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller), in coordination with the military services, to explore cost-effective approaches to collect and report S&I pay program data for the Reserve Components.

Agency: Department of DefenseStatus: Open

Comments: As of August 2017, the Department of Defense had not taken action on this recommendation.

Recommendation: To facilitate DOD's oversight of the military services' S&I pay programs, and to fully ensure the effectiveness of these programs, the Secretary of Defense should direct the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, in coordination with the military services, to review whether S&I pay programs have incorporated key principles of effective human capital management and used resources efficiently, and prioritize and complete the establishment of measures for the efficient use of resources.

Agency: Department of DefenseStatus: Open

Comments: As of August 2017, the Department of Defense had not taken action on this recommendation.

Recommendation: To facilitate DOD's oversight of the military services' S&I pay programs, and to fully ensure the effectiveness of these programs, the Secretary of Defense should direct the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, in coordination with the military services, to routinely assess the impact of non-monetary incentive approaches on retention behavior and on the necessary levels of S&I pays.

Agency: Department of DefenseStatus: Open

Comments: As of August 2017, DOD had submitted a proposal to conduct a study focused on aviation officers that will examine the military services' methodologies used to accomplish their retention goals to determine the primary reasons aviation officers remain or leave the service and the degree to which these reasons affect their retention decisions. According to DOD officials, a portion of the study will consider the interaction between monetary and non-monetary incentives such as duty assignments, flying opportunities, reduced administrative burdens, and quality of life.

Recommendation: To facilitate DOD's oversight of the military services' S&I pay programs, and to fully ensure the effectiveness of these programs, the Secretary of Defense should direct the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, in coordination with the military services, to clarify existing guidance for S&I pay programs regarding the extent to which personnel performance should be incorporated into retention decisions.

Agency: Department of DefenseStatus: Open

Comments: As of August 2017, the Department of the Navy was intending to use a servicemember's individual performance as a component for determining eligibility for selective retention bonuses. According to DOD officials, the primary criteria for the bonus remains skill based, but the Navy is planning to explore the effectiveness of first offering bonuses (and in limited cases higher bonuses) to top performers.

Recommendation: To facilitate DOD's oversight of the military services' S&I pay programs, and to fully ensure the effectiveness of these programs, the Secretary of Defense should direct the Secretaries of the Military Departments to develop approaches to directly target Selective Reenlistment Bonuses to cybersecurity skill sets.

Agency: Department of DefenseStatus: Open

Comments: As of August 2017, the Department of Defense had not taken action on this recommendation.